A VARIED CAREER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19799, 21 November 1927, Page 10

A VARIED CAREER.

MR. DUNCAN MACPHERSON. EIGHTY-EIGHTH BIRTHDAY. Mr. Duncan Macpherson, former Presbyterian city missioner, celebrates his 88th birthday to-morrow. As a young man he had a remarkably varied life. The knowledge he gained helped to fit him for the Christian work which occupied his later years. Born in Glasgow he was taken while still an infant to Liverpool, where his father followed the occupation of a ropemaker. There he attended the Celedonian Church school and the Mechanics' Institute. At the age of 12 he went to work with his father and became an apprentice. Hooks of travel and adventure thrilled him and at 19 he shipped in the New York packet ship, the Isack Wiff, for New York. This ship had just been repaired, but, after a severe storm she had to put back to Liverpool when almost halfway across the Atlantic. Eventually he was paid oil at New York in April, 1859, the first mate giving him a word of cheer by saying: "Smart young fellow that; ho will do -well in this country." In a few days he got work with an undertaker, but he did not like "putting dead bodies into coffins." He then got work on a large garden farm owned by General Sandford, on the North River, two miles beyond Sing Sing prison. He stayed about two years and three, months until she Civil War broke out over the slave question.-, Returning to Liverpool, Mr. Macpherson went back ta the ropeworks and served another two years Shortly afterwards he married Miss Margaret McQueen, and at the close of the Civil War they decided to return to America, They started for California over the Rockies by way, of St. Louis, travelling by the immigrant train, which was very slow. Fever and ague were contracted and on arrival at St. Louis he found cholera was raging. Later they returned to New York and shipped for Liverpool again, leaving London for New Zealand in August, 1879. on board the barque Loch Fleet, with a family of four children. The voyage took 16 weeks and three days and was free from storms of any consequence. On arrival in Auckland Mr. Macpherson took up his trade of ropemaking, working for the late Mr. Neil Lloyd, Potisonby. Then he started for himself on the Surrey Hills, where Williamson's Avenue now is. He worked night and day, but could not make it pay. Joining, up with St Stephen's Church, Ponsonby, he took a class in the Sunday School, and in 1884 was appointed Presbyterian missioned a position he occupied for 30 years, with the credit that is won by great devotion. Part of his work was visiting the public institutions, such as the prison, the hospital, Che Mental Hospital, Costley Home. etc. His work also included visits to ships. Mr. Macpherson, who has been a widower for a great many years oast, is now residing with his daughter, Mrs. W. D'Autherau, at Devonport.